Sell-down part of next phase at Hobsonville Point

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Some seven hectares of development land up for sale at Hobsonville Point in Auckland will increase the availability of new home building sites in the city.

Media Release
1.7.2013

Waterfront and heritage homes sell-down part of next development phase at Hobsonville Point

Builders and developers are being given the opportunity to become part of one of New Zealand’s largest residential projects - with the sale of large development sites in the next phase of expansion at Hobsonville Point in Auckland.

The blocks, in what is known as the Sunderland Precinct at Hobsonville Point, overlook the upper reaches of the Waitemata Harbour, and are being sold in five individual titles, covering more than seven hectares in total, zoned for a mix of stand-alone and medium density housing.

The five blocks range in size from a 3600 square metre site that includes Mill House, a large house pre-dating the Hobsonville air force base, through to a bare 3.6 hectare development parcel.

Combined, the blocks have the potential to accommodate between 144 to 278 new residences – in combinations of standalone, semi-detached, terraced dwellings or apartments.

The development land is being sold by Hobsonville Land Company Limited (HLC), the lead developer of Hobsonville Point, and a Crown owned entity. Marketing of the five residential blocks and adjoining commercial premises is being conducted by Bayleys Real Estate through a registration of interest process closing on August 8.

Hobsonville Land Company commercial manager Mark Fraser said the release of five new residential blocks would enable additional mixed intensity housing - including some higher value homes - to begin earlier than previously anticipated.

Mr Fraser said the first precinct of 690 homes at Hobsonville Point had progressively been sold to building companies since 2011, and was currently the scene of intense home building activity.

“These builders are enjoying very strong house sales and will be more than 50 percent sold by the end of the year,” he said.

Some 200 dwellings have been built or are nearing completion in the first precinct of Hobsonville Point, with an even greater number due for completion in the coming year, Mr Fraser said. From 2014, the number of homes being completed annually was expected to grow to between 250 -300 dwellings.

Bayleys Real Estate salesperson Michael Pleciak said that by offering the 7.4 hectares at Hobsonville Point in five parcels, smaller developers would have an opportunity to compete to be part of one of New Zealand’s largest residential developments.

“The five parcels can be tendered for in any number of combinations. For example, one developer could bid for all five blocks, or five developers might each tender for one parcel each.” he said.

“The exceptional demand for sites within the first phase of residential development at Hobsonville Point gives considerable confidence to developers of the second phase that there is substantial on-going demand for housing stock in the community.”

He said construction of homes on these new development sites could potentially begin as early as 2015. Utility services such as power and telecommunications cabling, roading and street lighting had yet to be laid in the five residential blocks and would follow the sale process.
Mr Pleciak said state-of-the-art infrastructure at Hobsonville Point community was progressing at a phenomenal rate – with the primary school already open, the secondary school currently under construction and due to open for the first term of next year, a retirement village operator signed on to run a planned 145 unit facility, the first apartment project confirmed, and initial talks being held with operators looking for neighbourhood retail opportunities including a corner-store.
When complete, Hobsonville Point will contain up to 3000 residential dwellings, and provide homes for around 8000 people.

“What we are seeing at Hobsonville Point is a social phenomenon - the creation of an entire suburb, complete with social infrastructure, in what will be the space of a decade. That’s far faster by comparison than the evolution of either Albany or Dannemora/Botany for example which both took considerably longer to mature,” Mr Pleciak said.

ENDS

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